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Tom Izzo won't know until Thursday whether Adreian Payne will for sure play vs. Penn State

College basketball: Michigan State vs. Michigan

Michigan State center Adreian Payne (5) watches a replay on the video board during their Big Ten basketball game against Michigan at the Breslin Center in East Lansing on Saturday January, 25, 2014. Michigan won the game, 80-75. (Mike Mulholland | MLive.com)
(Mike Mulholland | MLive.com)

EAST LANSING -- Michigan State's Adreian Payne is back practicing, but coach Tom Izzo is still unsure whether the senior forward will play Thursday versus Penn State.

Payne, who sprained his foot a month ago, is still officially day-to-day.

"I'm looking forward to getting AP back," Izzo said Tuesday. "To what degree? I thought he looked pretty good as far as moving on that foot (this morning). I wouldn't be fooled by him in the uniform.

"How much he'll play on Thursday I wish I knew. Maybe by Thursday morning I'll know more but it's going to be day-to-day. The hardest part he's going to have to deal with is what is sore and what is (a matter of) non-use. I met with him this morning and he was doing pretty well."

Payne worked out with the doctor and trainer on Sunday -- the day after the team returned home from its 64-60 loss to Georgetown. Monday, Payne participated in roughly one-third of practice, sitting out for the physical drills and instead doing a lot of running.

"This morning he was pretty good," Izzo said of Payne. "Right now he's got no real pain, according to him. I think he's excited to get started. He was very animated yesterday."

Payne's conditioning could be an issue once he returns. There also will be other adjustments for the Spartans to make.

"Getting him back, I mean I can't wait, but there's going to be a week, week and a half, not only for him to get back but for us to get used to him," Izzo said. "We haven't really thrown it inside that much and with him we're going to be able to do some different things. It's still going to take a while. There's still going to be some bumps in the road."

Payne averaged 16.2 points and 7.7 rebounds per game before the injury. He has missed seven straight games, during which No. 9 Michigan State (19-3, 8-1) has gone 5-2.

Michigan State beat Penn State (12-10, 3-6) 79-63 in State College on Dec. 31. That was the first of five straight conference losses for the Nittany Lions, who have begun to turn things around in the past two weeks. Penn State has won three straight Big Ten games, including a 71-70 overtime win at Ohio State.